Coring apparatus



Aug 10, 1943. P. T. BYNUM CORING APPARATUS Filed May 24, 1940 POM T By'nwm. 3/ INVENTOR. 2 I

Patented Aug 10, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,326,435 coamosrraasrus Pink T. Bynum, Beeville, Tex.

Application May 24. 1940, Serial No. 336,936 1 Claims. (01. 255-72.)

This invention relates to coring apparatus and has for its general purpose the provision of a coring apparatus for taking cores from soft formations through which a well bore may pass.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a coring apparatus which may be passed 'down through a drill stem and seated within a invention and the interior of the drill collar when such device is in place therein as illustrated.

The device just referred to consists principally of a carrier member 8, a core barrel 9 slidably mounted therein, the carrier member 8 having a head In at its upper end with passages l I therecore bit and then caused to take the core by means of-fiuid pressure within the drill stem.

Another object of this invention is to provide a coring device of the type referred to in which it will be unnecessary to rotate the drill stem during the coring operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device ofthe type referred to in which the entire coring operation may be carried out without removing the drill stem or rotating it.

/ Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the character referred to which will be simple in construction and easy to operate.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. Y

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a device constructed in accordance with this invention illustrating the same just after it has reached the proper position for beginning the coring operation.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken along the line 2-2 of Fi l.

Fig. 3 is a view on a reduced scale principally in side elevation with parts being broken away and shown in section illustrating the same device with the parts in position they occupy at the completion of the coring operation.

.In the drawing the numeral i represents a drilling bit of any conventional coring type adapted to receive a core barrel. This bit is in this instance carried on the lower end of drill collar 2, the upper end of which is secured to the lower end of a conventional drill stem 3. The

bit blades are provided with the usual passageways 4 for the passage of slush therethrough during the drilling operation.

Within the upper end of the bit there is provided a ring 5 having passages therethrough communicating with the slush passageways i and having an upper surface beveled as shown at 6 for the purpose of guiding the coring device of this invention into its proper position. The drill collar adjacent its lower end is provided at i with any suitable form of packing or sealing ring adapted to form a seal between the device of this through for the passage of slush, and a spear head l2 thereon whereby the device may be removed through the drill stem 3. Within its lower end the carrier 8 is provided with a bushing l3 which is secured in place by threads or the like and is adapted to serve as a guide for the core barrel 9.

Core barrel 9 is provided atis lower end with a cutter head l4 having an opening therethrough slightly smaller'than within the core barrels and having a suitable core catcher l5 interposed between the cutter head and the'core barrel 9 so as to retain any core which passes upwardly through the cutter head into the core barrel.

The upper end of the core barrel is provided with'a piston l6 fitting snugly within the carrier passed downwardly through the drill stem preparatory to taking a core, or under certain circumstances if the circulation of slush should be reversed.

The core barrel is provided adjacent its upper end witha vent opening 20 communicating with the space 2| between the core barrel and the carrier, and the carrier is provided adjacent its lower end with lateral openings 22.

In operation, the device is lowered or passed into the well through the drill stem withthe carrier and core barrel occupying the relative positions shown in Fig. 1. When the device reaches the lower end of the drill stem, the carrier will seat within the bit as illustrated, the beveled surface 6 on the upper end of the ring 5 serving to guide the carrier into its position. After the parts are so seated the pumps are started and caused to force slush under pressure into the upper end oi thedrillstem. Thisslush under point 1 and is, therefore, forced downwardly through the passageways II to the space within the carrier 8 above the piston Hi. This slush under pressure acts upon the piston l6 and the ball l9 to move this piston downwardly within the carrier. Now, with the drill stem so positioned that the bit I is on the bottom of the hole, or very nearly so, this downward movement of the piston l6 will move the entire core barrel 9 downwardly and cause the cutter head M to penetrate the formation at the bottomof the well. As this penetration occurs a core will rise through the cutter head l4 past the core catcher l5 and into the core barrel 9. Slush within the core barrel at the beginning of the coring operation will at this time pass out the vent opening 20, through the annular space 2! and through the vent opening 22, and thence outwardly through the passageways 4 into the open hole.

When the core barrel has moved downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3,, the piston l6 will have moved downwardly so as to clear the open ings 22 and when this occurs the slush under pressure above the piston 86 will pass directly out through the openings 22 and the passageways 4 into the open hole. This will relieve the load on the slush pumps at the surface of the ground permitting these pumps to speed up and conveying to the operator the information that the coring operation is complete.

With the completion of the coring operation the entire device may be removed by means of an ordinary overshot such as customarily used for the purpose and the core extracted from the core barrel 9.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a means has been provided for carrying out all the objects and advantages sought by this invention, for taking a core without rotation of the drill stem and without the necessity of withdrawing the drill stem from the hole, and for controlling the taking of such core by means of hydraulic pressure. This device also provides a structure in which the operator at the surface of the ground will receive a clear indication when the coring operation has been completed.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a carrier adapted to be passed downwardly through a drill stem and seated within a drilling bit, a core barrel slidably carried by said carrier and movable downwardly with respect to said carrier by fluid pressure within the drill stem, and a means for directing the fluid pressure within the drill stem against said last mentioned means.

2. In a device of the character described, a carrier adapted to be passed down through a drill stem and seated within a core bit, a core barrel slidably mounted within aid carrier for downward movement with respect thereto, and means within said carrier for causing downward movement of said core barrel in response to fluid pressure within said drill stem.

v 3. In a device of the charatcer described, a carrier adapted to be passed down through a drill stem and seated within a core bit, means on the upper end of said carrier whereby it may be withdrawn through such drill stem, and a core barrel within said carrier and slidable therein to project below such bit and take a, core, and means subject to the pressure within such drill stem for forcing said core barrel into extended core taking position. i

4. In a device of the character described, a carrier, 8. core barrel .slidably carried by said carrier for downward movement with respect thereto, said carrier and core barrel adapted to be passed downwardly through a drill stem a a unit and seated within a drilling bit, a core cutter head on the lower end of said core barrel for cutting into a formation and forming a core extending into said core barrel during such downward movement, means for retaining such core in said core barrel, and means actuated by fluid pressure within the upper portion of said carrier for forcing said core barrel downwardly and causing it to take a core.

5. In a device of the character described, a carrier adapted to be passed downwardly through a drill stem andseated within a core bit, a core barrel slidably mounted within said carrier for downward movement to a projected position extending below such bit for taking acore, means subject to the pressure within said drill stem for forcing said core barrel downwardly, and means for venting the interior of said core barrel to the space outside of such drill stem.

6. In a device of the character described, a drill stem, a core bit on the lower end of said drill stem, a carrier, a core barrel slidably mounted within said carrier for downward movement with respect thereto, said carrier and core barrel adapted as a unit to be passed downwardly through said drill stem and seated Within said core bit, and means forming a seal between said core barrel and the interior of such drill stem whereby pressure exerted within said drill stem will be applied to said core barrel to force the same downwardly for taking a core, said core barrel having an opening therefrom for venting the upper end of said core barrel to the exterior of said drill stem during the coring operation.

7. In a device of the character described, a drill stem, a core bit on the lower end of said drill stem, 9. core barrel within said drill stem and slidable with respect to said bit to project below said bit and take a core, means forming a seal between said core barrel and the interior of such drill stem whereby pressure exerted within said drill stem will be applied to said core barrel to force the same downwardly for taking a core, and means for by-passing fluid pressure from within said drill stem to a point outside of said drill stem when said core barrel has been projected a predetermined distance.

PINK T. BYNUM. 

